Why so many 'rampage' shootings in the U.S.?

Question

The U.S. has had a long string of the kinds of rampages we saw yesterday in Virginia. The following represent only a selection of the school shootings over the last decade or so.

Oct. 3, 2006
Nickel Mines, Pa. - 10 dead, plus shooter.

Aug. 24, 2006
Essex, Vt. - 3 dead

March 21, 2005
Red Lake, Minn. - 10 dead

Sept. 24, 2003
Cold Spring, Minn. - 2 dead

March 5, 2001
Santee, Calif. - 2 killed, 13 wounded.

April 20, 1999
Littleton, Colo. - 14 students, 1 teach died. 23 wounded.

May 21, 1998
Springfield, Ore. - 2 killed, 22 wounded.

March 24, 1998
Jonesboro, Ark. - 5 killed.

Oct. 1, 1997
Pearl, Miss. - 2 killed, 7 wounded.

Feb. 19, 1997
Bethel, Alaska 2 killed, 2 wounded.

Feb. 2, 1996
Moses Lake, Wash. 3 killed, 1 wounded.

These kinds of shootings also happen in Europe, Canada, South America, Scandanavia and other modern countries... but only very rarely. In the U.S. these shootings happen with regularity. And not just in schools!

What has created this distinction in the U.S.?

sociald, the list is a selection. I've left out many incidents. The actual figure is considerably higher.

But even relative to my selection, no other modern country comes close.

There's a reason for that.

Thanks for that, Earl.

Answer 1

My friends and I wonder about this too sometimes.
we came to the conclusion that its cultural (violence is fashionable), Economic.

Americans are subjected to violence everyday.Through TV, movies, music, you name it.
After so many years of relaxed views on these type of things it becomes part of peoples psyche.
So much in fact that when the person is contemplating this type of action it actually seams like a plausible option.

Answer 2

You're not from the USA.
Our culture is much more high energy than those.
The distinction is very complex. It is not a simple, "there are more guns in the USA".
People (common ones) are tracked in europe right from grade school.
If they do well with a certain type of test they are given certain career options. They never experience the freedom and self reliance we do.
This poor 24 year old who did the shooting, probably was very isolated and sheltered. He grew up in DC. His parents wanted him to focus, so they removed him from the mainstream DC public culture.
I'm sure each of the other perpetrators had analogous issues, in their development.

Answer 3

Media!! Copy Cats. There is a section of the US government which individual employed in this sector have endured some horrible, horrible crimes against these individual for the positions the hold. These crimes are kept out of the media in order to avoid copy cat.
In other countries how often is it publized in there country??
The flip side of the coin on freedom of the press it copy cat.

Answer 4

It is the right winged paranoia from Rush Limbaugh hate radio and FOX news. The National Rifle Association (NRA) lobbyist had George Bush cancel Bill Clinton's ban on automatic weapons, they never renewed the legislature. The shooter was South Korean with a green card. He purchased 1 .. 9mm Glock, and then another 1 month later, both had 15 round clips. He bought automatic weapons with a green card!!!! Here is the whole VT video from today explaining the whole mess.

Answer 5

The bottom line is too many angry people who don't know how to deal with their anger combined with easy access to guns and other instruments of random violence.

It has its roots in America's overly simplistic view of morality that originated with the Puritans in the north and the bible thumping snake handlers in the south, combined with racial hatred.

Also, historically Americans have always tended to address any and all grievances with violence.

Answer 6

First of all, the United States is not the best place to live. The United States was rated 8th in the worlds standard of living.

It is very stressful and tense to live in the U.S. and this produces a lot of closet psychopaths in American society.

The standard of living in America has been steadily dropping since 1955, and today in 2007 there are 'third world' areas in the States since all the good paying heavy industry jobs uped and left. America is dying.

Answer 7

I'd say too much unresolved anger AND easily obtainable firearms.

Do we need more psychiatric help?.....probably.

Stricter laws for gun owenership?... Ooooh 2nd Amendment issue.

Balls back in your court...what to do... what to do...



.

Answer 8

It's the cowboy gun culture and the irresponsible groups like the NRA that won't accept limits on even semi automatic weapons...

Answer 9

You named 11 events over an 11 year time frame. I didn't see you mention all of the attacks by motor vehicle, or the poisonings, or the arsons. Why are you being selective?

Answer 10

Sounds like more people should have the ability to arm themselves for protection.. You can take the guns away, but you can't prevent the crimes from happening.. People will find a way to obtain what they want.